Compare towns
Waterville vs Appleton vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Waterville | Appleton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077 |
1,360Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Biddeford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME |
| Biddeford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 27% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 133 in ME | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.